The atmosphere at the postgame press conference was solemn yet filled with respect.
Facing the media, Coach Scott Brooks spoke with a grave expression. "There's no question that the loss was entirely my responsibility. The tactics I carefully arranged were dismantled one by one by Goodwin.
"I have to admit, his composure is truly astonishing. He's simply too strong—so strong that one can't help but marvel at how fortunate we are to live in an era with such an outstanding player.
"It is precisely because of his presence that we are constantly driven forward, pushed to keep improving."
The moment these remarks spread, they caused a huge stir throughout the league.
Numerous head coaches voiced their praise and agreement with Brooks, while fans everywhere felt the same way.
Everyone agreed that in this era, it was Goodwin's sudden emergence that kept other players from relaxing in the slightest. They worked desperately to improve themselves at every moment, all in the hope of one day defeating this powerful opponent.
However, to be fair, fortune and misfortune often went hand in hand.
Just like Jordan in his prime, Goodwin had undoubtedly driven the development of the entire league with his exceptional ability, pushing other players to keep striving forward.
But at the same time, his brilliance was simply too dazzling, all but crushing other players' chances of ever laying a hand on the championship trophy.
As a result, many people who watched basketball in later years mistakenly believed that the players from Jordan's era had been weak.
But that was not the case. Those players possessed extraordinary talent and ability as well; they simply appeared dim beside Jordan's unmatched dominance.
At the same time, Goodwin responded to Coach Brooks's praise. "Thank you very much, Coach Brooks, for your kind words. I'll keep